Ogden News

Dr. Randall Harper Award for Outstanding Research in Physics and Astronomy*

Awarded to the junior or senior student with research exhibiting significance, effort, originality, and creativity.

Zachary C. Thomas

Zachary Thomas, a senior physics major with mathematics minor, works with Dr. Ali Er in his laboratory as an undergraduate research assistant. Zach receives this award for his support of Dr. Er’s research exploring uses of graphene quantum dots as a viable application in photodynamic therapy – a hot topic in biomedical research for treatment of infections and cancers. Zach has presented this research nationally at the March Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS) and the Southeastern Section meeting of APS and has received an award for a presentation he gave at the Kentucky EPSCoR meeting. In addition, Zach has worked with Dr. Schugart of WKU Mathematics on a medical mathematical modeling project involving tumor growth. Zach continues to work in Dr. Er’s research laboratory and plans to pursue a career in the aerospace sector after graduating from WKU.

* Award made through the efforts of the College Heights Foundation.